 |
|
Canadian Chemical History
|
|
Originally chemistry had its beginnings in medieval alchemy.
Alchemy was a form of chemistry that was principally concerned
with transforming lead into gold. Finding a universal solvent and
the elixir of life were also high on an alchemist's list.
Today chemistry is the study of "the structure and
properties of matter and the transformation of one form of matter
to another." The discipline was first taught in Canada at
the Séminaire de Québec, a sponsor of Université Laval, in the
year 1852.
In 1833 Jean Baptiste Meilleur (1796-1878) became the first
Canadian to write a chemistry textbook. It was entitled
"Cours abrégé de lecons de chimie". The text was
published in Montréal and covered the methodological principles
of chemistry. It was designed to be utilized by young Canadian
students.
In 1837 the discipline received academic recognition when
James Robb, MD became the first Canadian professor of Chemistry
at King's College, Fredericton, known today as the University of
New Brunswick.
Chemistry has come a long way. Biologists, physicists,
engineers, geologists, dentists, and physicians all need to
understand chemistry. Even business people and stockbrokers
require chemical knowledge. Chemistry is the gateway to all
sciences and it is one of the most theoretically and
methodologically sophisticated sciences around today.
|
